Retired Capt. Tom Moore, a World War II veteran, shall henceforth be known as Sir Moore.
The 100-year-old was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle on Friday afternoon. The captain was given the honor after raising 32.7 million pounds for the United Kingdom’s National Health Service by pledging to take 100 laps around his 50-yard-long garden before his 100th birthday. The amount collected far exceeded his original goal of 1,000 pounds.
As he awaited the ceremony, Moore was in high spirits, joking with reporters, “If I kneel down, I’ll never get up again.”
VIDEO: And her is a better angle of @captaintommoore’s moment with The Queen this afternoon … #knighthood pic.twitter.com/SGvIYKO36G
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) July 17, 2020
The queen came out of isolation to knight the veteran who Prime Minister Boris Johnson called a “national treasure.” At the ceremony, the queen could be overheard telling Moore, “One hundred is a great age.” The Telegraph reported that the pair spent nearly five minutes chatting.
Afterward, Moore displayed his medal, telling reporters, “Never ever have I been so privileged. To be so close to the queen and speak to her, that really was something absolutely outstanding.”
? NEW: Captain Sir Tom just told us about his “outstanding” day with the Queen @captaintommoore pic.twitter.com/qTk8AHCqRl
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) July 17, 2020
